Festivals in Nepal

Nepal is
not only the rich of mountains; it is also the rich of festivals. There are
more than 50 festivals celebrated in Nepal each year. While the countrywide
festivals have fixed dates but religious festivals are situate by astrologers
following the lunar calendar. The most excellent part about the festivals in
Nepal is that all the festivals are celebrated with the similar enthusiasm and
in abundance the way it used to be centuries year of ago when people had no
other resources of entertainment

Here are some major festivals of Nepal

New Year:

It is
known as “Nayavarsha” in Nepal. Nepal has its certified calendar that begins
from the first day of the first month “Baisakh”. This first day is observed as
Nepali New Year which normally lies in the second week of April. Some people go
for picnics, have get-togethers and celebrate the day socializing in different
way; this day is national holiday as well.

Lhosar (Tibetan New Year):

This is
the New Year of the Tibetans and Sherpas of Nepal which falls normally in
February. The Buddhist monasteries in Kathmandu like Swayambhunath and
Boudhanath are decorated with eye catching multicolored prayer flags pulling
the crowd. The people execute their traditional dances and welcome their New
Year with feasts and family gatherings wearing the new clothes and handpicked
jewelries and exchanging gifts with each others.

Saraswati Puja:

Saraswati
Puja also known as Shree Panchami is a day to celebrate the birthday of
Saraswati,the God of study. This is a day when group from school students to
scholars worship their books, copy and pens to please the Goddess and imagine
her favor in their studies so they become wise and knowledgeable. People also
worship around the god of Goddess Saraswati in Temple and offer flowers,
sweets, fruits, etc. On this day, small children start to go school from this
day as well. The festival falls between January/February is observed as a very
lucky day for marriages too as it is said that Goddess Saraswati blesses the
couples herself.

Shivaratri (Maha Shivaratri):

Shivaratri
is known as the night of Lord Shiva that it falls normally between
February/March is one of the well known festivals of Nepal. This day is
dedicated to the Lord of the Lords Mahadev (Shiva) who lived in Mt. Kailash in
the Himalayas. Lord Shiva is the most worshipped God in Hindu religion. More
than 100,000 of Hindu followers from India and Southeast Asia come weeks ahead
of the festival and get together in around Pashupatinath Temple, one of the
famous places of pilgrimage of the Hindus in Kathmandu to pay their respect to
Lord Shiva on his birthday. “Pashupatinath” exactly means “the Lord of animals”
as Lord Shiva is considered as the guardian and defender of everything that is
in the Himalayan Kingdom. On this blessed day, worshippers take bath in the
holy river at early sunrise and fast for the entire day and live around fire to
keep them warm as it is still winter in Nepal.

Ghode Jatra (Festival of Horses):

This
festival fells between March/April and an impressive horse parade takes place
at Tundikhel. Although this festival does not have much of religious aspects, a
large number of people, even from outside of Kathmandu gather around Kathmandu
to spectator the horse race and other exciting sports activities performed by
the Nepal Army in the incidence of the King and the Royal family.

Buddha Jayanti:

Buddha
Jayanti means Buddha’s birth anniversary is celebrated every year month of May
in Nepal. On this day people grouping in Boudhanath and Swayambhunath temple to
pay respect to Lord Buddha and also visit Buddha’s birth place in Lumbini and
song prayers and burn butter lamps. Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha
Gautam but he neglected his luxurious life when he realized the depression of
mankind and went in search of enlightenment to Jungle.

Gai Jatra (Cow Festival):

The
festival of cow is celebrated each year in August/September. This is also one
of the most admired festivals in Nepal as it is full of humor, comedy, satire,
mockery and shades of depression too at the same time. And on this day satires
and jokes on everybody is legal. As per the tradition, the family who has lost
a relative and member of own house during the past one year must take part in a
procession by sending young boys in cow like clothing and walk throughout the
road of Kathmandu lead by a cow. Cow is regarded as a Goddess and it is also
the national animal of Nepal. This festival also cleans many who have lost
their loved ones as they get to lessen themselves as to they are not the only
ones who have been died and it also teaches to accept death as a part of our
life.

Krishna Janmastami:

This is
the birth anniversary of Lord Sri Krishna, believed to be the 8th life of Lord
Vishnu falls around August/September. All the followers gather in Krishna
Mandir, the ancient Krishna Temple in Patan Durbar Square and other temples
with the icon of Sri Krishna and offer prayers, flowers, food, sweets etc.

Haritalika Teej:

This is a
Hindu married woman’s day for her man. This festival is lies in
August/September. All hindu women dressed in beautiful red saris, singing and
dancing is the sight about everywhere in Nepal during the festival of Teej. On
this day women stay fasting and pray to Lord Shiva for the long, healthy and
prosperous life of their husbands and their families. The unmarried women also
celebrate this festival with unabated passion with the hope that they will get
to marry with good husbands. From early morning on this day, women queue up in
the lines in Pashupatinath Temple to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva.

Indra Jatra:

This
festival named after Lord Indra- the God of Rain and the King of Heaven is
celebrated by both the Buddhist and Hindu religions in Nepal in
August/September. This festival lasts for eight days with on stage, mask
dancing and joy. The chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess is taken through the
main roads of Kathmandu with much displaying. On the first day, the President
of Nepal also pays respect to Goddess Kumari. The mass of energized people from
performers to spectators overcome the streets of Kathmandu during this
festival. People get to enjoy various classical dances like “lakhe” which is
known as mask dance as well.

Dashain / Bijaya Dashami:

Dashain is
the greatest festival in Nepal. Normally Dashain fells the mont of late
September or early October. Dashain is the longest and the most favorable
festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste
and creed all through the country. This festival celebrates for 15 days. The
fifteen days of celebration arise through the bright solar fortnight ending on
the day of the full moon. Detailed out the kingdom of Nepal the goddess Durga
in all her expression are worshiped with numerous pujas, plentiful offerings
and thousands of animal sacrifices for the sacrament holy bathing.

Deepawali / Tihar:

This
festival of lights that falls between October-November is the second greatest
festival after Dashain. This festival celebrates for five days and people
worship to Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth. All the houses are cleaned and
decorated with the principle that Laxmi will come into the house that is the
cleanest and people burn candles, oil lamps and other lights and the whole
place looks enlightening. During the five days, crows, dogs and cows are
worshipped and pleased with delicious food for what they have done in the lives
of humans. Crows are considered as the messenger that brought new news even
during the times when there were no postmen and no postal services. Dogs are
the most dutiful animals and they guard our houses as true guardians. Cow is
also an icon of wealth in Hinduism and she is also the national animal of
Nepal. The ceremony of worshipping festival ends with Bhai Tika. This day
sisters worship to their brothers for his long and healthy life to protect the
lives of his sisters.

Fagu Purnima / Holi:

This
festival of water and colors that lies between February/March is also known as
“Phagu Purnima” in Nepal. This day is observed to rejoice the extermination of
female demon Holika who mutually with her King Brother conspired to kill his
son Pralhad, an enthusiastic devotee of Lord Vishnu. This day, playful people
especially the young ones walk through the streets in groups on foot or
vehicles with diverse colors dirty all over them and the people in houses make
merry throw colors and water balloons at each other and also to streets walkers
as well.